Paul Chomiak, MD

Dr. Chomiak is a well-established thoracic oncology surgeon with a reputation for utilizing state of the art technologies along with innovative treatment options to offer his patients multiple options for diagnosis and therapy of thoracic (chest) related diseases. By utilizing a "multidisciplinary" approach, his patients receive a collaborative opportunity for treatment planning and treatment delivery.

Professional Biography

Dr. Chomiak is a native of the Midwest. After completing his general surgical training at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, Dr. Chomiak pursued a fellowship in thoracic oncologic surgery and thoracic transplant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Chomiak is a diplomat of the American Board of Thoracic Surgeons as well as a fellow of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Dr. Chomiak began clinical practice in mid 1990's serving patients in Wisconsin. In 2003, he was recruited to develop a thoracic surgical practice at the Frederick Memorial Regional Cancer Therapy Center (FMH) located in central Maryland. Through this clinic model, the program was able to reduce the "diagnosis to treatment time" from 3 months to 2 weeks.

Dr. Chomiak offers a full compendium of surgical interventions that include video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), chest wall resection & reconstruction, as well as mediastinal and diaphragmatic surgery. Dr. Chomiak has expertise and experience in interventional brochoscopy, including Superdimensional Navigational Bronchoscopy. In 2011, Dr. Chomiak became a certified da Vinci robotic surgeon. Dr. Chomiak also directs the Lung Cancer Screening program of the Sacred Heart Cancer Center.

Dr. Chomiak's mission is to provide a patient centered and evidence based healthcare delivery experience by utilizing state of the art technology in a multidisciplinary environment.

Areas Expertise

Chest Wall Tumors

Diaphragm Hernias / Paralysis

Emphysema Bullae / Blebs

Interstitial Lung Disease Diagnosis

Lung Cancer / Mediastinal Cancer

Lung Nodule Surveillance

Mediastinal Thymoma / Cysts / Tumors

Pleural / Pericardial Effusions

Thoracic Infection Empyema / Lung Abcess

Procedures of Expertise

Bullectomy / Emphysema surgery

Bronchoscopy (diagnostic & interventional)

Chest wall resection & reconstruction (for cancer and trauma)

Decortication (empyema / abcess / lung infection

Diaphragmatic reconstruction (hernia / traumatic / paralysis)

Lobectomy / Bilobectomy

Mediastinal resection (tumor / cysts)

Mediastinoscopy

Muscle flap coverage (rotational)

Pericardial fluid drainage

Pleural fluid drainage / pleurodesis

Pleural catheter insertion

Pneumonectomy

Sublobar / Wedge resection

Thymectomy

Services

CT Scan Lung Nodule Screening: High risk patients are eligible for screening if they meet the following criteria:

Adults between the ages of 55-80

Current smokers, or those who have quit smoking in the last 15 years, with a 30 pack year history of smoking. To calculate pack years smoked, multiply the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked.

Adults age 50 with a 20 pack year smoking history and one other risk factor such as a family history of lung cancer, personal history of other cancers or significant history of exposure to certain environmental factors such as asbestos or radon.

If there is a family history of lung cancer then patients as young as 50 or with a 20 pack-year smoking history can undergo screening. To determine if you are a candidate for CT Lung Nodule Screening please call 416-LUNG (416-5864). Read more about lung cancer screening.

Lung Nodule Surveillance is a program offered over a two year interval to provide radiographic follow up (low dose CT scan) of indeterminate lung nodules . If during this surveillance time frame a "change" is detected in a lung nodule, the patient will then undergo a minimal invasive lung biopsy.

Outpatient Pleural Fluid Management is a program that is offered to our patients that have recurrent symptomatic pleural effusions that were treated with a chronic pleural catheter system. Our program, in collaboration with home health agencies, will coordinate outpatient pleural fluid drainage sessions in the patient's home or skilled nursing facility.

Technologies Utilized

da Vinci Robotic Surgery is a technology that allows complex thoracic surgical procedures to be performed via small "puncture" sites in between the rib spaces. The robot translates the surgeon's hand movements real-time onto micro instrumentation. In our program, patients recuperate and leave the hospital in only 1-2 days after surgery. At one week, 60% of our patients are no longer taking narcotic pain medication. Many of our patients have been able to return to a baseline quality of life within 2 weeks following surgery.

When this technology is used in combination with Superdimension Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy, patients identified with small enlarging nodules (4mm to 10 mm) can undergo a surgical diagnostic and therapeutic resection and usually be home the very next day.